> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.phbhealth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Start a walk-in visit

> Start a visit for a patient without a booking, and send them to a doctor or to triage.

## Before you start

You need:

* The role `receptionist` (or `owner` or `admin`).
* The patient found on **Find · check in**. If they are new, register them first. See [Register a patient](/guides/front-desk/register-a-patient).

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find the patient">
    Search on `/hospital/desk`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Start visit">
    On the patient's row, click **Start visit**. The **Start a walk-in visit** panel opens.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose where they go">
    * **To a doctor**: under **Send to provider**, pick a clinician from **Choose a clinician…**. Each shows if they are **Available**, **In consultation**, **On break** or **On leave**.
    * **To triage · nurse**: a nurse sees them first.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the reason and priority">
    Type the **Reason for visit**. Set **Priority** to **Routine**, **Urgent** or **Emergency**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm identity (optional)">
    Click **Confirm identity** to check who they are. You see **Identity confirmed**, **Partial match** or **No match**. This is a check only. It never stops the visit.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add to the queue">
    Click **Add to queue** for a doctor, or **Add to triage**. The patient appears in **Today**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Payment">
    Walk-ins are paid at the desk. Click **Send to cashier** if your facility charges for the visit.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What you can do here

* Send a walk-in straight to a doctor's queue or to the nurse's triage queue.
* Set a priority so urgent patients are seen first.

## Common problems

| What you see | What to do |
| - | - |
| **Choose the provider to send the patient to.** | Pick a clinician, or choose triage. |
| **Could not start the visit.** | Try again. If it keeps failing, check the patient's record on their desk page. |
| No clinicians in the list | No doctor is set up at your facility yet, or none is on duty. Send the patient to triage. |

## Next

* [Walk-in visit workflow](/workflows/walk-in-visit)
* [Triage](/guides/nurse/triage)
* [Collect payments](/guides/cashier/collect-payments)


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